Bedclothes-holder.



110.829,118. PATENTED 111111.21, 1906. N. o. MERK.

BBDGLOTHES HOLDER.

" `NITEI) STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NELLIE C. MEEK, F FREMONT, OHIO.

BEDCLoTHEs-HOLDR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 21, 1906.

Application led October 14, 1905. Serial No. 282.742.

dren, invalids, and persons in a restless or delirious state.

The present device is especially designed to afford a firm hold on the bedclothing and yet avoid tearing or rupturing such clothes by the pitching and tossing of the occupant of the bed.

With these ends in view the invention consists in the novel construction,'arrangement, and combination of the several parts of the device, as will be hereinafter described, illustrated in the drawings, and more particularly pointed -out in the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a view showing. my improved device attached to the bedclothes and Fig. 2 is a perspective view of th device, showing the details of construction thereof.

Referring to the drawings, the numerals 1 and 2 indicate, res eotively, the u er and lower hinged jaws o the device, sai jaws being hinged at their rear ends'and provided with a suitable link 3, to which is attached a suitable tape or cord 4 for attaching said device to the bed. The upper jaw 1 is of a somewhat greater length than the lower jaw v 2 and has its forward end curved to an approximately inverted-U shape 5, and the free eg of said inverted-U shape 5 is provided with a cylindrical termination 6 for a urpose hereinafter stated. The free end o the ower jaw 2 is curved or upturned, s'o that when the jaws are closedit will enter the U- sha e portion of the opposite jaw, as shown, an is provided on its end with a cylindrical termination for a purpose hereinafter stated.

The hinged jaws 1 and 2 are each provided with an elongated opening or slot -7 for the` reception of a suitable post 8.l This post may be either rigidly or oosely secured in the opening or slot of the lower jaw, if so desired.

The numeral 9 indicates a suitable coiled spring surrounding said post 8 and having its ends preferably bearing against the jaws for the purpose of normally holding said jaws apart. l

The numeral 10 indicates an angle-lever having its short arm bifurcated and terminating in two downwardly-extending legs 1,1 11, as shown.

that when the long arm of said angle-lever is pushed downward the-legs 11 `y11 of the short arm will bear u on the top of the upper jaw 1 and Kforce said jaw downward and the inverted-U-shape portion thereof over and upon the upturned end of the lower jaw. The angle-lever 10 is so shaped that when the long arm of said lever is forced down against the upper 'aw the downwardly-extending legs 11 11 of the short arm will be at a point slightly in advance of the vertical plane of its pivotal connection and Will be firmlylocked against accidental displacement by the upward stress of the upper jaw.

The operation of the device is as follows: The long arm of the angle-lever 10 is elevated, and the spring 9, surrounding said po'st 8, will force the jaws apart. The clothes to be held are then inserted in thek jaws over 'the upturned end of the lower jaw. The angle-lever 10 is then turned `down and the jaws brought together, when said bedclothes will be firml and securely held thereby. By

reason o the cylindrical terminations or ends of the jaws the clothes held thereby will not Ybe torn or ruptured, as has heretofore been the case, by an stress or strain that ma be `placed on the c othes incident to the pito 'ing' and tossing of the occupant of the bed.

It is evident that minor structural modifications may be made in this device without departing from the spirit of this invention. I

The top of the post 8 ispivotally i secured to said angle-lever between the down-f wardly-projecting legs 11 11 in such position,

therefore do not limit myself to the exact forms herein shown.

AHaving thus described my inventlon, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Pat-l ent of the United States, is Y 1. In a device of the character described,

the combination with two o positely-disosed hinged jaws, one of saidp jaws having its free end terminating in an, approximately, U-shape portion, and the opposite jaw hav- `ing its end turned to set into said U-shape portion when said aws are closed, the outer ends of both aws being provided with curved or cylindrical terminations; of an elongated IOO ITO

opening or slot in one of said jaws, a suitable post secured in the opposite of said jaws and having its Jree end projecting through said I jaws, a `suitable slot, a spring for holding said jaws normally apart, and an angle-lever pivoted to the free end of said post to the outside of, the jaw, adapted, when turned down against said jaw, to lock the jaws together, and when turned up out of engagement with said jaw, to permit the said jaws to open.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination of two oppositelydisposed hinged jaws, one of said jaws having its free end terminating in an, approximately, shape, portion, and the opposite jaw having its iree end turned to set into said U-shape portion when said jaws are closed, the extreme outer end of each jaw being provided with a curved or cylindrical termination; of an elongated opening or slot in one of said post secured in the opposite of said jaws and having its free end projecting through said slot, acoiled spring surrounding said post between said jaws, and an angle-lever having the short arm thereof bifurcated and pivoted between said bifurcations to the free end of said post to the outside of the jaw, adapted when turned down against said jaw to lock the jaws together, and when turned outA of engagement with said jaw, to permit the said jaws to be opened by the pressure of said spring.

In testimony whereof I afiiX my signature in presence of two subscribing'witnesses.'

NELLIE C. MERK. Witnesses:

ROBERT B. MEEK, JOHN J. LEHMANN. 

